Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: Mage and Mage
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Ian collapsed onto his bed the moment he got home.
His stomach was growling, but he had no appetite. His pounding headache made it impossible to even think about food.
"Still, I should eat something...."
For the sake of regulating his condition, he needed to put something in his stomach. Starving himself because he wasn't hungry would only slow his recovery. It was just a headache, but it was a bad one.
"Should've bought some medicine."
Ian groaned and slowly pushed himself up from the bed.
His waterlogged coat and clothes had dried completely during the bike ride, but the intense cold had come as a bonus gift. Staying like this would surely lead to a cold or worse.
Now that he was a mage, he wouldn't catch illnesses easily, but they could still happen. If conditions aligned perfectly, an anomaly might latch on pretending to be a disease.
Even vaccines-developed illnesses like the Spanish flu or Black Death weren't rare in this line of work, so caution never hurt.
'Black Death medicine goes for about 100 million at the Cartel, I think. Pretty sure I saw it in passing....'
Lost in thought, he ordered some simple food on his phone, which he'd tossed aside. Then he headed to the shower, washed quickly, and came out.
"Hoo...."
He felt languid for no reason. He desperately wanted to lie down and rest.
But since he'd ordered food, he sat in a chair and waited for delivery.
'...It's about time to move out of this place.'
He leaned back against the chair, staring at the ceiling.
Back when his bank account was nearly empty, he'd scraped together every won he had—borrowed or not—to get this studio. But now that he had plenty of money, there was no reason to stay. He should look for a new place soon. It wasn't like he'd grown attached.
No huge houses—they'd be a hassle to maintain. At least two rooms, three at most. Location-wise, near an officetel would be ideal.
Unlike his workshop, where he had a million picky requirements, a home just needed to be a comfy place to crash. Finding one shouldn't take long.
Ding-dong.
As he pondered, his food arrived. Ian grabbed the bag and set it out on the table.
He'd ordered just a few sandwiches to meet the minimum, so it wasn't lavish, but it would fill him up decently.
Ian unwrapped a sandwich, took a bite, and scrolled his phone for videos to watch while eating.
Nothing caught his eye. He tried one where some Indian guy declared he'd explain magic, but it was total nonsense, so he lost interest fast.
'Magic's not some math theorem. Pythagoras couldn't use magic.'
In the end, he closed the app and logged into the community. He was immediately greeted by the usual worthless posts.
[Mad Moon World here, the mage who said he caught a Reptilian last time. Here's the settlement.]
[Mad Moon World]
(Picture of 200 million won deposited in bank)
Jackpot.
[Recommendations 3][Disrecommendations 3]
[Comments]
-Pain-in-the-ass from getting money: Hope you're not full of shit.
Mad Moon World: Burger?
ㄴGonna recommend fake it.
Mad Moon World: Faking disrecommendations too, you bastard.
-Fish: Includes organs and stuff? Or just the hide?
Mad Moon World: Everything except a few parts I kept. So not as much as expected.
ㄴFish: Still, 200 mil ain't bad.
-Come to think of it, haven't seen many Reptilians lately. Someone mass-hunting them?
ㄴTaming Master: Heard aliens from the Atlantic are fighting over territory.
ㄴlol This is our land, fuck off!
ㄴTaming Master: (Why's it yours, mage con?)
"...Aliens."
A universe teeming with inscrutable beings called Outer Gods. It wouldn't be strange if other lifeforms besides humans roamed its vastness. The Outer Sea creatures were basically aliens too, if you nitpicked.
The thought of them landing on this pale blue planet in saucer-shaped UFOs felt oddly profound. He was curious about their appearance and what they thought of humanity.
That said, he had no desire to meet them.
Dealing with Earth's anomalies was plenty.
"...."
Ian mulled it over as he ate half the sandwich. Then a sudden thought struck him. He wiped the grease from his hands and posted.
[Quick question.]
[Anon]
What's Laplace? Some terrorist group?
Idle mage NEETs must abound—replies poured in immediately.
-Bunch of the worst of the worst. Clock Tower rejects, cannibals, serial killers gaining power that sort. Criminal syndicate.
ㄴThat's tame. Just think total psychos who treat human lives like flies. Yeah.
-Serious Magic Addict: Hedonists. Steer clear.
-Taming Master: Mages don't sweat ethics much, but Laplace mages take it too far. Even mages don't grab civilians for materials or sacrifices, but they do it casually.
-Ear Bug: Clock Tower, Vatican, Management Bureau—everyone hates them. Called a mage group, but not just mages. Some psychics too.
-★Grandmother: Just checking—you're not thinking of joining, right?
After ★Grandmother's comment, no more replies came. It felt like they were waiting for him. Ian folded the sandwich wrapper and typed.
ㄴAnon: Nah;; Handled a job today, might've gotten tangled with them.
ㄴ★Grandmother: Phew, glad. But not good news.
ㄴ★Grandmother: Did you run into a mage directly?
ㄴAnon: Nah, just saw a magic circle. Not even sure it's Laplace. But they definitely used an anomaly for terror, so asking just in case.
ㄴ★Grandmother: Hmm... Famous Laplace mages using anomalies: two of them.
ㄴDolores: Ohohohot! That reject Eddie and his sidekick Marianne! That's who you mean, right, Grandmother? This lady knows all!
Dolores—a new username—butted in.
He remembered the name. When he first met Kim Yul, she'd guessed his username and mentioned Dolores.
-Dolores: Newbie I've been spying on since the block lifted! This lady will specially tell you about Eddie and Marianne!
...He hadn't realized back then, but she was a full-blown lunatic. Han Yu-na-level concept player. At that severity, reality and community blurred.
Still, info was info. No reason to refuse. Ian took a sip of water and replied to her nagging 'Tell me quick!' comment.
ㄴAnon: By all means.
Fight concept with concept. No need to flaunt mage intellect chatting with crazies. Poison cures poison.
-Dolores: Ohohohot! Such refined manners for a mage! Elegance drips from your words!
She seemed pleased.
ㄴAnon: You're quite the lady yourself. So what kind of scum are this Eddie and Marianne?
ㄴDolores: Yes! Both Laplace mages who killed their Clock Tower masters and fled! Vermin!
Dolores kept replying.
ㄴDolores: Still wanted. Haven't been caught. Both use anomaly-handling spells.
ㄴDolores: Marianne's probably in South America. Eddie's unknown. But if newbie's incident was Laplace, Eddie's likely in Korea?
ㄴAnon: Strong?
ㄴDolores: ?
ㄴAnon: Heavens, is this mage Eddie strong?
ㄴDolores: Ohohohot! Not weak. Anomaly mages ranked by simultaneous anomalies handled—he does four max! But if he crosses this lady, he'll die without a bone left ohohohot!
Her speech was chaotic, but he got the info. Ian groaned, tossed his phone on the bed, and lay down.
He now had a rough outline of Laplace.
Their goals, reasons for banding together, grand ideals—he didn't know or care. Key point: criminal syndicate.
Even without hero syndrome, kidnapping or killing random civilians made his eyes narrow. Taboos exist for a reason.
If they crossed paths, better to strike first without hesitation. Recruitment offers? Not interested. No need to ditch his connections for crime.
"...Hoo."
Ian exhaled toward the ceiling and slowly closed his eyes.
Much to think about, but his condition wasn't great. Rest first, plan after the headache eased.
He did just that, resting on the bed. Soon, his breathing evened out.
*
Ian woke when late dawn was nearly over.
Cold wind seeped through the slightly open window, and his dark-adapted eyes took in the room.
"...Mm."
Half-lidded, he groped for his phone to check the time.
4 a.m.
Slept around 3 p.m., so nearly 13 hours straight. No wonder his throat was dry.
"Urgh...."
Ian dragged himself up and flicked on the living room light.
Bright room.
He grabbed his bedside water cup, filled it at the purifier, and gulped cold water. His foggy mind cleared a bit. Headache much improved—down to mild migraine at worst.
Condition... decent after half a day's sleep. Good enough for magic. Ian nodded, satisfied, and plopped into a chair with the cup.
Outside still dark. Hours till sunrise.
Sleeping more wouldn't hurt, but sleepiness had fled. No point forcing it.
13 hours was plenty. Early start today seemed fine.
Ian set the cup down, threw on his coat, and stepped out.
He fished a cigarette from his pocket pack, lit the tip between his lips.
As he headed to the rooftop lighter-hunting—
"Need a light?"
An unfamiliar voice echoed down the villa hallway.
Ian's movements halted.
"As a fellow smoker, I can lend a light."
End of the dim hallway.
Crimson glow flared briefly then faded. Gray smoke rose slowly from where it hung.
"Catch."
Screech.
With the voice, a silver Zippo scraped across the floor. Ian paused, then picked it up and pocketed it.
"No smoking in the building except the roof. Didn't they teach you?"
"...Ha. A stickler for rules, huh?"
The voice's owner exhaled smoke and approached.
Moonlight slanted through hallway windows. Now Ian saw his face clearly.
"Don't like rule-sticklers much."
Middle-aged man with snow-white hair and beard. Gray suit and coat. He flicked his cigarette between fingers, glaring blankly at Ian.
No more words passed.
No reason given for coming here, seeking Ian.
No questions on intent or purpose.
Didn't matter.
"...."
"...."
Eddie eyed Ian with murderous intent.
Ian stared back with cold eyes.
And.
"Summon."
"Prove your innocence before the Codex."
Both called forth their magical foci.